After a one-year hiatus, the Lady Royals will again bring a grand spectacle to Yoder Arena at the start of a new season, as the EMU Invitational kicks off the 2013 slate, which was released today.

Eastern Mennonite’s volleyball women will play 27 matches this fall, including 10 at home. Five of the home dates will come at the first whistle, starting with four contests at the EMU Invitational on Aug. 30 and 31, followed by Mary Baldwin on Sept. 5.

The Invitational is a six-team format this year, featuring EMU, Goucher, Howard Payne, Mary Baldwin, Salem and Waynesburg. The Lady Royals will play each team except for Goucher. Over the two days, there will be 12 matches spread over two courts in Yoder Arena.

Following the home stretch to start the year, the women head to Washington, D.C., for the CUA Guetle Invitational on Sept. 7 and 8. The Lady Royals then kick off the ODAC schedule by hosting Randolph College on Sept. 11. EMU also welcomes Emory & Henry, Shenandoah, and the ODAC’s two national tourney qualifiers from last fall – Randolph-Macon and Washington and Lee.

Among their road dates are a pair of tri-matches – taking on Guilford and Methodist in Greensboro, N.C., on Oct. 5 and then Bridgewater and Catholic on Oct. 26 in Bridgewater. The regular season ends with a non-conference affair at Goucher on Nov. 2. The ODAC Tournament is the following week.

The rebuilding Lady Royals started last season with a 2-4 record, before finishing at 4-19.